U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Rachel Youkey, center, oversees Afghan airmen as they load the rocket pod of a Mi-17 helicopter with rockets at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Nov. 13, 2011. Youkey is a munitions air adviser assigned to the 738th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group. U.S. Air Force phoro by Senior Airman Corey Hook

An Afghan air force member loads a 57 mm S5 rocket into the rocket pod of a Mi-17 helicopter at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Nov. 13, 2011. Kandahar Airfield is the only area in Afghanistan where the Afghan air force conduct rocket training. U.S. Air Force phoro by Senior Airman Corey Hook

Afghan air force members load the rocket pod of a Mi-17 helicopter at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Nov. 13, 2011. Kandahar Airfield is the only area in Afghanistan where the Afghan air force conduct rocket training. U.S. Air Force phoro by Senior Airman Corey Hook

Afghan airmen load a Mi-17 helicopter with 57 mm S5 rockets on Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Nov. 13, 2011. The Afghan air force has been performing rocket training since March 2011. U.S. Air Force phoro by Senior Airman Corey Hook

Officials approved a contract with Afghanistan for at least 20 A-29 Super Tucanos, like the one pictured.

Afghan air force to receive at least 20 A-29 Super Tucano light air support aircraft

09:10 GMT, January 16, 2012 KABUL, Afghanistan | In the Afghanistan government's continued effort to independently battle counterinsurgency, a new tool will be added to their arsenal designed to allow versatility, reconnaissance and precision weapons placement to the growing Afghan air force.

Announced Dec. 30, the U.S. Air Force has approved a contract worth more than $350 million that will provide the Afghan air force with at least 20 A-29 Super Tucano light air support aircraft, ground training devices and all associated maintenance and support equipment originally slated to arrive mid-to-late 2013.

According to Brig. Gen. Tim Ray, the NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan commander, the Tucano was "tailor made" for the Afghan's counterinsurgency mission and provides a cost-effective, easy to sustain platform to help augment the Afghan air force's already capable lift and training platforms.

by Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Larlee438th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

2/6/2012 - KABUL, Afghanistan (AFNS) -- A group of seven Afghan officers continued their journey to earn pilot wings by passing their first flight screening course Feb. 2 at Shindand Air Base, Afghanistan.

The officers are attending the first undergraduate pilot training held exclusively inside Afghanistan in more than 30 years. The flight screening course consisted of 22 flights in a Cessna 182, nine simulator flights and 25 hours of academics. The last flight in the course was a supervised solo flight where the students were in full control of the aircraft on the mission.

The pilot candidates, from provinces throughout Afghanistan, are graduates from the National Military Academy of Afghanistan as well as Initial Officer Training, held in the United Kingdom and since graduation have been enrolled in the Kabul English Language Training Center where they've studied and developed the English language needed to fly.

The students passed this portion of training with flying colors said Lt. Col. James Bands, the 444th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron commander.

"Up to this point, the students have performed very well," he said. "The dedication and commitment they have shown in their academic studies has been remarkable. On the first test they received, six of the seven scored a 100 percent and the seventh scored a 96 percent."

The colonel said that the progress the students have been making closely mirrors the progress students would make in classes in the U.S. Four of the students will go on to train in the MD-530 helicopter and eventually to the MI-17. The other three students will continue down the fixed wing path and fly the C-27 Spartan upon graduation.

Bands said the training hasn't been an easy process and there have been significant hurdles to overcome along the way.

"The biggest challenges so far have been working out of temporary facilities until the phase one building at Shindand (Air Base) is complete," he said. "Right now, all of the classroom work is being completed out of tents near the flightline. Our civil engineers here at Shindand (Air Base) have done a remarkable job of being flexible and giving us facilities to train the students."

Bands said he enjoys working with the students and he will always look back fondly on helping the students navigate their journey to pilot wings.

"So far this has been a very rewarding assignment for me," he said. "The opportunity to mentor and build another country's air force is a once in a lifetime opportunity and one that I will always be able to look on with pride."

WASHINGTON — The Afghan defense minister warned late Feb. 17 that a U.S. proposal to cut the size of Afghan security forces by more than one-third after 2014 could lead to a catastrophe.

The minister, Gen. Abdul Rahim Wardak, expressed his concerns in an interview with The Wall Street Journal after the United States circulated a new proposal to cut troops from 352,000 to 230,000 after 2014.

“Nobody at this moment, based on any type of analysis, can predict what will be the security situation in 2014. That’s unpredictable,” Wardak is quoted by the paper as saying.

“Going lower has to be based on realities on the ground,” he warned.

“Otherwise it will be a disaster, it will be a catastrophe, putting at risk all that we have accomplished together with so much sacrifice in blood and treasure.”

The proposed troop reduction, discussed at a North Atlantic Treaty Organization ministerial meeting in Brussels, was confirmed to The Journal by U.S. Army Lieutenant General Daniel Bolger, commander of the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan that developed it.

The smaller Afghan force, estimated to cost some $4.1 billion a year, reflects “our assessment of what the international community will provide and what the Afghans can provide for themselves,” Bolger said.

However the U.S. general stressed that the proposal was produced by a “U.S.-only planning team,” and was not an agreed position of the allied governments.

KANDAHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - As Afghan National Security Forces begin to take the lead in providing security for the people of their country, coalition forces have moved towards more of a mentoring role when conducting joint combat missions. In Regional Command-South, the Kandahar Air Wing has begun to take its first steps towards conducting operations on their own.

On Feb. 21, the Kandahar Air Wing executed its first air assault operation in the Kandahar Province to disrupt and counter Taliban efforts.

“This was the first joint air assault the KAW planned and conducted,” said Capt. Douglas Kinkennon, A Company Commander, 3rd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade. “During the mission, the Kandahar Air Wing demonstrated proficiency with their aircraft. They reacted well to some unexpected landing conditions.”

For the air assault, the 25th CAB provided its vast experience in the mission planning to the Afghan Air Wing.

Part of the experience included providing two OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters for reconnaissance and security.

After the mission was complete, the aircrews returned to Kandahar Airfield to conduct an After Action Review. According to Lt. Col. Atuallah, Squadron Commander, KAW, he was very pleased with the performance of his pilots during the planning, briefings, rehearsals, and success of the mission.

Mission success comes from detailed planning, alternate ideas if the original cannot be carried out for any reason, and training in all aspects of the operation.

An important aspect of training deals with the knowledge of proper procedures for entering and exiting an aircraft.

The Afghan Air Wing conducted static load training with 1st Brigade, 205th Corps, and Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers prior to executing the mission. During the training, ANA soldiers were trained in the loading and unloading procedures of the Mi-17 aircraft with 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division soldiers.

While soldiers were completing the training, the pilots made their final preparations for training passes and the final mission.

“All the elements involved were well prepared for the mission,” said Lyons. “Their confidence and ability to react to unexpected variables contributed to the success of the operation.”

Throughout the whole training and planning phases, the 1-205th and Afghan Air Wing demonstrated their flexibility and determination to increase the security of their country.

The mission built upon the skills from previous training to get experience for future operations. It also built up moral, confidence, and established good rapport between the 1-205th, Kandahar Air Wing, and coalition forces.

According to Lyons, all units left the training with the highest confidence that all soldiers were properly trained flying in the Mi-17 helicopter and coordination with multiple aircraft from different countries executing a combined air assault operation.

“I am proud to see the Kandahar Air Wing and 1-205th Corps planning and executing missions for their country,” said Kinkennon. “It shows that Afghanistan’s armed forces can stand up for their government without us someday.”

The US is likely to reopen bidding for 20 AT-29 Super Tucano light support planes, following the recent cancellation of its $355m Light Support Aircraft (LAS) contract with the team of Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) and Embraer, citing concerns over the procurement process.

Brazil's Industry and Trade Minister Fernando Pimentel was quoted by Agency France Presse as saying: "They did not give official notice, but informally, they said: 'Wait for another tender, we are expecting a new tender."

The US assured Embraer that "there will be another round, there will be another tender," Pimentel added.

The service had issued a temporary stop-work order on the contract in January 2012 following a lawsuit filed by Hawker in the US Court of Federal Claims.

Hawker's AT-6 light attack aircraft was disqualified from the competition in November 2011.

The contract, awarded to SNC and Embraer's team in December 2011, was for the supply of 20 AT-29 Super Tucano aircraft as well as ground training devices and support services to the Afghanistan Air Force by the end of April 2014.

Hawker alleged that the competition and source selection evaluation process and documentation conducted by the service had been unfair, and were not transparent.

The air force had earlier stated that the decision to restart the contract award process with new rules or retain the previous rules was pending.

Designed to perform counterinsurgency (COIN) missions in low threat environments, the AT-29 Super Tucano will be used to conduct advanced flight training, aerial reconnaissance and close air support operations for ground troops.

Architect of Afghan Air Operations Takes the A-29 Super Tucano for a Ride

A-29 Super Tucano Makes U.S. Debut at Oshkosh Air Show

09:04 GMT, July 24, 2012 SPARKS, Nev. | When retired fighter pilot and Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Lt. Gen. David Deptula was offered the opportunity to take the A-29 Super Tucano for a test-flight, he jumped at the chance. The aircraft is a contender, offered by Sierra Nevada Corporation in partnership with Embraer, in the U.S. Air Force (USAF) Light Air Support (LAS) competition. The plane is on display this week at the Oshkosh air show.

The A-29 Super Tucano has gained prominence in the international defense market in recent years due to its capabilities and track record in difficult environments, as well as its low cost of operation and ownership. In the Latin American countries that were the first to adopt this aircraft (Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic and Ecuador), political leaders credit it with toppling illegal organizations and controlling a variety of other threats. Since the beginning of 2012, Burkina Faso, Angola and Mauritania each have signed contracts to purchase Super Tucano aircraft and Indonesia placed an order for another batch of eight aircraft and a flight simulator, having already purchased eight Super Tucanos. Embraer, the plane's manufacturer, recently announced an agreement with Boeing to provide weapons integration for the A-29 Super Tucano, further enhancing its capabilities.

The aircraft selected by the USAF for its Light Air Support program initially will be used to provide light attack, armed reconnaissance and training capabilities to the Afghanistan military. It will also provide the U.S. and other partner nations with critical capabilities for agile, flexible, economical, new generation multi-role airpower.

"Given that now, more than ever, the United States and its allies need to find cost-effective, innovative ways to successfully defeat a variety of non-traditional threats, I wanted to see for myself whether the Super Tucano deserves the superb reputation it already possesses," General Deptula said.

Deptula served in the U.S. Air Force for more than 34 years. Among his many accomplishments, he served as Director of the Combined Air Operations Center for Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001, where he orchestrated air operations over Afghanistan resulting in removal of the Taliban regime and eliminating the al-Qaeda terrorist training camps. He also was the principal attack planner for the Desert Storm coalition air campaign in 1991. Deptula was the first Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Headquarters Air Force, where he was responsible for policy formulation, planning, and leadership of AF ISR and remotely piloted aircraft. He has piloted more than 3,000 flying hours (400 in combat) that include multiple operational fighter command assignments in the F-15. As a civilian, Deptula is focused on helping the defense industry provide better, cheaper and faster solutions to global security problems.

The A-29 Super Tucano is a relatively small, sleek, and powerful turboprop aircraft designed for multiple combat and ISR roles. Its airpower agility and value proposition is a result of years of advances in technology, design innovation, and demonstrated capability.

According to Deptula, there is no question that the A-29 Super Tucano was designed for maximum effectiveness in austere operations. "One of the things you notice immediately is the very wide track and high ground clearance of the Super T. Wide, sturdy gear, and low pressure tires mean superior 'off road' and crosswind performance." He also noted that the plane is intended to make the most of its 1600 SHP Pratt & Whitney PT6 engine. "The long fuselage and large vertical stabilizer are well designed to compensate for the torque of the powerful motor – and add ready growth space for future missions." The engine also overcomes the challenge of high, hot environments, and enables a sustained airspeed throughout high-G maneuvers.

Deptula also noted that the structure, frame, engine mounts, canopy, and the nine stores stations that support over 130 certified configurations (including a Bright Star II sensor by FLIR Corp.) are "purposely over-engineered." The wings and fuselage are blended for both strength and improved aerodynamics. Twin .50 cal machine guns are integrated into the wings saving weight and drag while improving accuracy. This, in-turn, improves station-time and adds critical persistence when operating in conjunction with ground forces.

The On Board Oxygen Generation System (OBOGS), "0-0" Martin Baker ejection seats, cockpit armor, and "wonderful visibility" from both cockpit seats, provide great confidence and comfort for those who fly the A-29, according to Deptula.

"The A-29 flies like a 'fighter' should. It's responsive, yet forgiving; rugged, yet advanced. If it weren't for the prop out front, I would have thought I was flying a jet," Deptula said.

The mission planning and debrief system, Honeywell and Collins avionics, configurable multi-function displays and HOTAS (hands-on-throttle-and-stick) are modeled after the USAF's modern fighters. According to Deptula, this design minimizes transition and training time and makes weapons employment intuitive and user-friendly. "These are important characteristics of an aircraft with which you are trying to get people up to speed fast," he said.

"I could have flown an actual mission after my short demo. Here's the landing checklist: Gear down. Flaps down. It doesn't get much simpler than that."

Video of General Deptula's Super Tucano flight is available at: http://www.builtforthemission.com/presskit.php

Gen. Deptula serves as a member of the advisory board of the Sierra Nevada Corporation. His military bio is available at: www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?bioID=5213.